It is absolutely normal to dislike people or have negative feelings about them. Disliking spending time with others or just generally preferring to be alone can be signs of personality traits like introversion.
Misanthrope comes from the Greek misanthrōpos “hating humankind” and was very likely popularized by the French playwright Moliere's Le Misanthrope, which depicts a bitter critic of society who chooses exile over contact with other people.
Misanthropy is the general hatred, dislike, distrust, or contempt of the human species, human behavior, or human nature.
You might avoid people that you know because you prefer your own company, you don't know how to make small talk, or you're scared of feeling vulnerable or exposed around others. Some people are also restricted by mood disorders, shyness, or previous negative experiences.
Being alone can be rewarding because it gives a person time to invest in themselves and their interests. People might choose to spend time alone because they are introverts energized by the quiet. Others may prefer being alone because they feel overstimulated when around others.
We Have Self-esteem Issues
Sometimes, we believe that, if we disclose to others who we truly are, people will see us as incompetent, unlikable or despicable. So, we hide our true feelings, actions, or beliefs in an attempt to uphold a good picture.
Misanthropy may be motivated by feelings of isolation or social alienation, or simply contempt for the prevailing characteristics of humanity.
You still have the capacity to feel love and compassion, know right from wrong, and can be kind. You just don't like being around people. Most of the time, it is easier to hate and avoid people than to try hard and find reasons to like them. If you find that you are a misanthrope, that's alright.
According to a meta-analysis co-authored by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, lack of social connection heightens health risks as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or having alcohol use disorder.
Our mind doesn't want to take any chances with potentially life-threatening events. The same applies to threatening people. Almost always, when we instinctively dislike someone, they're a perceived pothole we're quickly trying to avoid. They represent a threat to us.
In many cases, when we lack tolerance towards others it's simply because we don't understand them. By cultivating an open mind, learning about other cultures and people, and broadening our horizons, we increase our ability to understand and accept others.
1) You expect too much out of people
A very likely reason why you don't like people might be that you might be setting your expectations a bit too high. And when your expectations are a bit too high, it's inevitable that you will find yourself disappointed.
You can struggle to relate to others if you focus on your differences instead of the things you have in common. It is often more about how you understand other people's experiences than whether you share them. Relating can also be hard after extreme experiences that change how you view the world.
Like most things in life, popularity is more complicated than it looks. Some people are popular because they are likable—their peers like them, trust them, and want to be with them. Others are popular because they somehow gain a certain status, and use that power to wield influence over others (ie, high school).
Although misanthropy is not a technical mental disorder or illness, it often accompanies disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder, anxiety disorders, borderline personality disorder, or depression.
Overt expressions of misanthropy are common in satire and comedy, although intense misanthropy is generally rare. Subtler expressions are far more common, especially for those pointing out the shortcomings of humanity.
a person who hates, dislikes, or distrusts most others; an antisocial, cynical, or unfriendly person: They're a bunch of mean-spirited misanthropes, smugly indifferent to the misfortunes of others.
Some people with hidden depression experience personality changes. They may become more quiet and withdrawn, or they may be angry and irritable. Many people do not associate anger and irritability with depression, but these mood changes are not unusual among those with the condition.
We worry we are unloveable or there are things about us that people will find unacceptable. This causes us to hide. We hide those parts of ourselves–maybe a secret part of our identity, maybe a troubled past, maybe a neurosis that embarrasses us.
People conceal aspects of their identity for a variety of reasons. You might feel that you'd be rejected by the people in your social network if they knew the inner truth about you, or you might feel that you'll be prohibited from receiving certain benefits at work.